Pouch with pierceable channel

ABSTRACT

A container that includes a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel sealed together to form a pouch having a first and second side, a gusseted bottom, and a compartment. At one point of the container the seal that seals the panels together forms a channel. The channel leads towards the interior compartment of the pouch and has one or more frangible piercing points that act as a barrier between the compartment and the exterior of the pouch. The frangible piercing point at the end of the column is punctured to remove the materials from the pouch. The present invention pouch further comprises a straw to effectuate piercing the piercing opening to discharge the material.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field

[0002] The present invention is directed to a container in the form of apouch. In particular, the present invention relates to a flexible pouchdesigned to be pierced by a straw.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Various types of flexible pouches, also known as flexiblebeverage containers or stand-up pouches, exist. The containers areconvenient for juice and other beverages; in particular, these pouchesare often marketed for children's beverages. In addition, larger pouchesof this kind are useful for a variety of applications, including storingfood, animal feed, liquids, chemicals, and other flowable products.

[0005] The above flexible pouch containers often have a basicrectangular shape. The rectangular shape of these containers and pouchesnormally include side seals on a first and second side, a top seal, anda gusseted bottom member. The stand-up varieties of these pouches arethin at the top and widen towards the base. When the stand-up pouchesare filled and placed on a planar surface, the pouches remain in anupright position. Other pouches may not be designed to be stand upproducts, but have a similar design, whether with a wide base or anarrow base. In addition, the pouches may include a piercing opening forreceiving a straw, or other tool, thus allowing for dispensation of theproduct contained therein.

[0006] Many of the pouches currently available are made from a laminatesheet of material that includes polyester, metal foil, and some sort ofsealable plastic film, such as polyethylene. These containers are oftenheat sealable or sonic-weldable. The pouch material may be made of afoil material that utilizes heat sealing to affix a first panel and asecond panel together, and also to affix a third panel (gusseted) toboth the first and second panels.

[0007] One problem with pouches that have a frangible piercing point isthat the piercing point must be precisely struck with a piercing straw.Because of the necessity of striking the piercing point precisely, thefrangible piercing point may not result in an easily piercable barrier,especially for small children.

[0008] Accordingly, there is need for an improved pouch and method formaking a pouch that addresses one or more of the above problems.

SUMMARY

[0009] The present invention includes a stand-up flexible pouch with afirst panel, a second panel, and a third panel, the panels sealedtogether to form an interior compartment. The flexible pouch furthercomprises a frangible piercing point situated along an interior portionof a column. The column is operably designed to receive a straw which isthen utilized to pierce the piercing point and remove contents from thecompartment.

[0010] A flexible pouch comprising a compartment formed by a first panelsealed to a second panel, and a column disposed between the first paneland the second panel, the column being open at an external end andfurther including a seal at an internal point along the column.

[0011] A method of making a flexible pouch comprising sealing a firstpanel and a second panel together to form a compartment and forming acolumn extending into the compartment, an interior point of the columnfurther comprising a frangible piercing point.

[0012] A flexible pouch for storing a juice product comprising acompartment defined by a panel, the panel formed of a multi-layerlaminate, and a column extending through the panel and into thecompartment, the column further comprising a frangible piercing pointdisposed in the column whereby the column is conFIG.d to receive astraw, the straw designed to pierce the piercing point for removal ofthe juice from the compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a partially sectional front elevational view of aflexible pouch consistent with the principles of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view of the flexible pouch ofFIG. 1 with a straw inserted through a channel.

[0015]FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of a laminate used for makingthe pouch of FIG. 1.

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of the steps of making the pouch of FIG.1.

[0017]FIG. 5 shows the pouch of FIG. 1 after the panels have been sealedtogether but before the pouch has been filled.

[0018]FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the pouch of the presentinvention.

[0019]FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the pouch of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1-7, a pouch 10 may be filled withliquids, such as juice or water, or may be filled with paste-likematerials, fine granular materials, or any other suitable material thatmay be provided in a flexible container. In one embodiment, the materialof the pouch 10 is made of one or more layers of a flexible laminate 17(as illustrated in FIG. 3), such as an aluminum sheet covered with aplastic material. The layers of laminate 17 may be sealed together byheat sealing, heat welding, ultrasonic sealing or other methods known inthe art, such as adhesives and crimping.

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible pouch 10 includes afirst panel 12, a second panel 14, and a third panel 16. The first panel12, forming the front of the pouch 10, is affixed to the second panel14, which forms the rear of the pouch 10, by a seal 13 along a top edge,18, a first side 20, and a second side 22. The first panel 12 and thesecond panel 14 are further affixed to the third panel 16 so that thethird panel 16 forms a gusseted bottom between the first and secondpanels 12 and 14. When the panels 12, 14, 16 are affixed together, apouch 10 is formed as illustrated in FIG. 1. The pouch 10 furtherincludes a compartment 11 that contains the beverage or other product.As may be appreciated, the shape of the panels 12, 14, and 16 may varydepending on the shape of the panels 12, 14, and 16 are determined bythe desired final shape of the pouch 10. In one embodiment, such a pouch10 may be approximately 6 inches tall, 4.0 inches wide, and a few inchesthick at the base, narrowing towards the top, though the selected sizeand dimensions can be varied as described.

[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the laminate material 17 may includelayers of polyester 28, adhesive 30, foil 32, adhesive 34, andpolyethylene 36. Other materials may also be incorporated into thelaminate 17. For example, the laminate material 17 of the presentembodiment also includes an ink layer 38. The ink layer 38 may bepositioned between the polyester 28 and adhesive 30. In one embodimentthe multiple layer laminate 17 includes a 58 gauge reverse printedmaterial, laminated to a foil (25 to 40 gauge), laminated to a 2.5 to3.5 mil clear polyethylene sealant film. Other types of laminatematerials 17 may be utilized as desired.

[0023] As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the flexible pouch 10 mayinclude a straw 26 that may be utilized to pierce the pouch 10 andremove the contents of the pouch 10 from the compartment 11 afterpiercing. The straw 26 may be pointed and made of plastic or othermaterial. The straw 26 is preferably wrapped in some protective coating.The straw 26 may be firmly attached to the pouch 10, but may also beeasily separable for use. The straw 26 may be straight or bent, and mayhave a pointed end, a tapered end, or a substantially flat end.

[0024] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the pouch 10 further includes apiercing point 24 and a column 40. The column 40 may be formed when thefirst panel 12 and the second panel 14 are sealed together. When thepanels 12 and 14 are sealed together, sides 41 a and 41 b of the column40 are formed. The piercing point 24 may be situated at a point alongthe column 40. As may be appreciated, the piercing point 24 may beformed when the seal 13 is formed. As the sides 41 a and 41 b extendtoward the compartment 11 of the pouch 10, the column 40 is formed inthe desired length and shape. The seal 13 at the top of the column 40includes a gap 44. The gap 44 is the open end of column 40. The piercingpoint 24 and the gap may be incorporated when sealing the first panel 12and the second panel 14 together during the formation of the pouch 10.As may be appreciated, the column 40 can be formed leading into thecompartment 11 at any desired angle and can be a variety of differentlengths. In further embodiments the column 40 may be placed on a singlepanel.

[0025] In addition, the seal 13 of the present embodiment may include afirst area 45 and a second area 46 of sealed material on either side ofthe column 40. The area 45 and area 46 may include a wider seal 13between the first panel 12 and second panel 14, reinforcing the sides 41a and 41 b of the column 40 and preventing the splitting of the pouch 10when inserting the piercing straw 26 through the column 40. Sides 41 aand 41 b of the column 40 help to guide the piercing straw 26 to thepiercing point 24 without snagging or damaging the interior of thecolumn 40. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 1, sides 41 a and 41 b ofthe column 40 may extend further beyond the piercing point 24 to guidethe straw 26 into the compartment 11 even after piercing the piercingpoint 24.

[0026] The piercing point 24 separates the exterior of the pouch 10 fromthe interior compartment 11. In alternative embodiments the column 40may be situated in other positions depending on the desires of the user.For example, the column 40 could be situated in the top of the pouch 10and extend generally downwards toward the interior of the pouch 10. Instill further embodiments, the first panel 12 and the second panel 14may be folded in such a manner form a portion of the channel 40. In suchan embodiment the shape of one or both of the panels 12 and 14 wouldinclude a portion that is folded inwards to form the channel 40.

[0027] The width of the column 40 may taper somewhat toward either end.A somewhat wider exterior end to the column 40 may make it easier toinsert the straw. A wider interior end may allow the straw 26 to bemoved around inside the compartment 11 and better collect the contentsof the compartment 11. The overall width of the column 40 along itslength can be varied, but, at a minimum, should comfortably accommodatethe piercing straw 26 provided with the pouch 10.

[0028] When the straw 26 is utilized to pierce the piercing point 24, itdoes not actually pierce through one of the laminate 17 layers, butactually separates the sealed together panels 12 and 14. The insertionof the straw 26 through the column 40 separates the first panel 12 fromthe second panel 14 and exposes the piercing point 24 to the straw 26.In addition, the piercing point 14 may not be a straight line asillustrated in FIG. 1. The piercing point 24 may instead be in the formof a V, a U, or some other shape that provides an easily piercedpiercing point 24.

[0029] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment the firstpanel 12 further includes a cutout 42. The cutout 42 is a section of thefirst panel 12 that has been removed before the first panel 12 and thesecond panel 14 are sealed together. The cutout 42 is semi-circular inshape and is positioned at the exterior of the gap 44 in the seal 13. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the cutout 42 results in a portion of thelaminate 17 of the second panel 14 being exposed at the exterior end ofthe column 40. The different shape of the panels 12 and 14 at the gap 44of the seal 13 facilitates the insertion of the straw 26 into the column40. The interior layer of the laminate material 17 exposed by the cutout42 accentuates the gap 44 and facilitates the correct manner in which toinsert the piercing straw 26 into the column 40. The color of thelaminate 17 exposed by the cutout 42 may contrast with the graphics onthe exterior side of the laminate 17. Such a contrast aids in theplacement of the straw 26 at the exterior end of the column 40 forcorrect insertion of the straw 26 into the pouch 10. In alternativeembodiments, the color of the exposed laminate 17 can also beincorporated into the graphic scheme of the produced pouch.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 4, to make a pouch 10, a sheet of flexiblelaminate 17 material is first provided (50). The laminate 17 has severallayers as described above, one of the layers being a metal foil layer32. Any artwork that may be desired on the final pouch 10 product may beadded to the laminate 17 prior to the start of the following steps. Aseries of cutouts 42 are first created in the laminate material (52).Creating the cutout 42 in the laminate 17 is accomplished by any mannerknown to those skilled in the art. The cutout 42 is circular, though inalternative embodiments the cutout 42 can be any desired size and shape.The cutouts 42 are made in a predetermined pattern that will result inthe correct placement of the cutouts 42 on the panels 12, 14, 16 afterthey are cut and sealed together. After the cutouts 42 are created inthe sheet of laminate material 17, the sheet is cut (54) into panels ofa predetermined size and shape.

[0031] Next, the panels 12, 14, 16 are sealed (56) together to form thepouch 10. A first panel 12 and a second panel 14 are sealed along afirst side and a second side and are each then sealed (56) to a thirdpanel 16. The column 40 is created during sealing by the seal 13employed to make the pouch 10. For example, if panels 12, 14, and 16 areheat sealed together, the heat seal may be shaped such that the seal 13forms sides 41 a and 41 b of the column 40. The sides 41 a and 41 b maybe of any desired length and provide a column 40 of a desired width. Theseal 13 may also be utilized to form the piercing point 24 at any pointwithin the length of the column 40.

[0032] After sealing the panels 12, 14, 16 together, the pouch 10appears substantially as illustrated in FIG. 5. The top edge 18 is notyet sealed because the opening is required for later filling of thepouch 10. As previously mentioned, sealing can be done by heat or sonicwelding the chosen laminate materials 17 together. Because of the seal13, the column 40 is formed when the side seal 22 is made.

[0033] Referring again to FIG. 4, after sealing (56), the pouch 10 isthen filled (58). After filling, the top edge 18 of the pouch 10 issealed (60) to enclose the contents in the compartment. Finally, thestraw may be affixed (62) to the pouch 10.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 6, in one alternative embodiment of thepresent invention the top of the column 40 may be covered by a removablesection 50, the section 50 attached to the pouch 10 and removable byutilization of a frangible tear line 51. When the frangible tear line 51is ripped, the removable section 50 of the pouch 10 is torn away and thetop of the column 40 (i.e., the gap 44 in the seal 13) is exposed forinsertion of the straw 26 therethrough. Providing the removable section50 may increase the protection afforded the contents of the pouch 10.This design may be utilized with a piercing point 24 attached at the endof the column 40 or without. The tear line 51 may be created in a numberof ways known to those skilled in the art, for example, by incorporatinga string or other fiber to act as a tear line, by incorporating aperforated line in the material of the laminate 17, and in other similarways.

[0035] In another embodiment, the piercing point 24 can be pierced witha tool so that the material in the compartment 11 can be poured out ofthe pouch 10 through the column 40. Pouches 10 of this kind may beparticularly useful when the pouches 10 contain materials such aspre-packaged liquids, animal feeds, chemicals, and the like.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the column 40 may further include asecond piercing point 52. The second piercing point 52 may be utilizedas a second barrier between the exterior of the pouch 10 and thecompartment 11. The second piercing point 52 may be formed insubstantially the same manner as piercing point 24. This second piercingpoint 52 decreases the risk that any particulates or contamination willmake it into the compartment 11 and contaminate the material containedtherein. Furthermore, because of the configuration of the column 40,piercing a second piercing point 52 to discharge the contents of thepouch 11 is not appreciably more difficult.

[0037] As may be appreciated, the column 40 may be positioned at anypoint on the pouch 10. The column 40 may extend inwardly from a side,such as the first side 18 or the second side 20, from the top edge 18,or may be positioned on the first panel 14 or the second panel 16. Eachof these positions may be utilized, depending on the desires of theuser, without changing the nature and scope of the present invention.

[0038] The pouch 10 has been described as a stand-up container thatrests in a substantially upright position when set on a surface. Infurther embodiments, however, the pouch 10 may not be a stand-up pouch;the first panel 12 and the second panel 14 may be sealed togetherwithout the third panel 16 forming a gusseted section between the two.In this manner a pouch 10 may be formed that narrows towards the top andthe bottom and is designed to lie flat on a surface.

[0039] The column 40 and piercing point 24 positioned in the column 40help to reduce the amount of spillage both when the pouch 10 is piercedand when the user removes the contents from the compartment 11. Anymaterial that seeps out of the piercing point 24 past the straw 26 willsimply stay within the column 40. The column 40 of the present inventionacts as a reservoir for any material leaked from the compartment 11.

[0040] The column 40 and piercing point 24 situated at the end of thecolumn 40 minimizes the potential for accidental rupture the pouch 10when piercing with the straw. The column 40 positions the straw 26 atthe correct angle for piercing the piercing point 24. Furthermore, thecolumn 40 positions the straw 26 in a position wherein the straw 26 isunlikely to pierce through the first or second panel 12 and 14 in such amanner as to spill the contents of the pouch 10.

[0041] The embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposesand are not meant to exclude any derivations or alternative methods thatare within the conceptual context of the invention. It is contemplatedthat various deviations can be made to these embodiments withoutdeviating from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it isintended that the scope of the present invention be dictated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description of thisembodiment.

1. A flexible pouch comprising: a compartment formed by a first panelsealed to a second panel; and a column disposed between the first paneland the second panel, the column being open at an external end andsealed at an internal point.
 2. The pouch of claim 1 wherein the sealedinternal point is a first piercing point.
 3. The pouch of claim 2further comprising a straw for piercing the piercing point.
 4. The pouchof claim 3 wherein the straw is pointed.
 5. The pouch of claim 2 whereinthe column is tapered so as to be wider at the external end.
 6. Thepouch of claim 2 wherein the column is defined by a first wall and asecond wall, the first wall and the second wall of the column extendsinwardly toward the compartment.
 7. The pouch of claim 6 wherein thecolumn extending inwardly beyond the piercing point.
 8. The pouch ofclaim 2 wherein the column further comprises a second piercing point. 9.The pouch of claim 2 wherein the first panel further comprises a cutout,the cutout positioned on the external end of the column.
 10. The pouchof claim 9 wherein the cutout exposes an internal surface of the secondpanel.
 11. The pouch of claim 1 wherein the first panel is sealed to thesecond panel along a perimeter.
 12. The pouch of claim 11 wherein theperimeter further comprises a gap in the seal along the perimeter, thegap forming the external end of the column.
 13. The pouch of claim 1further comprising a removable portion that covers the external end ofthe column.
 14. The pouch of claim 1 further comprising a third panelsealed between the first panel and the second panel, the third panelforming a gusseted bottom.
 15. A method of making a flexible pouchcomprising: sealing a first panel and a second panel together to form acompartment; and forming a column extending into the compartment, aninterior point of the column further comprising a frangible piercingpoint.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the frangible piercing pointpiercable by a straw.
 17. The method of claim 15 further comprisingforming the column of a first wall and a second wall, the first wall andthe second wall extending beyond the frangible piercing point such thatthe straw is guided into the interior of the compartment after itpierces the piercing point.
 18. The method of claim 15 wherein one ofthe first panel and second panel further comprise a cutout operablypositioned at an external end of the column.
 19. The method of claim 15further comprising forming a removable section that covers an externalend of the column wherein when the removable section is removed, theexternal end of the column is operably exposed for inserting the strawtherethrough.
 20. The method of claim 14 further comprising forming asecond piercing point in the column.
 21. A flexible pouch for storing ajuice product comprising: a compartment defined by a panel, the panelformed of a multi-layer laminate; and a column extending through thepanel and into the compartment, the column further comprising afrangible piercing point disposed in the column, whereby the column isconFIG.d to receive a straw, the straw designed to pierce the piercingpoint for removal of the juice from the compartment.